Herbs with underground rhizomes, but sometimes large and woody (bamboos), with jointed, often hollow stems. Leaves often in two rows, simple, entire, consisting of an elongate sheath and a linear blade with a 'ligule' at the base, venation parallel. Flowers uni- or bi-sexual with flower-base (perianth) reduced to bristles or scales, each subtended by a pair of bracts Fruit an achene.
General info
Distribution Pan-tropical. More than 10,000 species. Ecology On open, light rich places, usually with heavy grazing. Often spreading by vegetative propagation. Bamboos can dominate large areas of disturbed vegetation. Uses Food (rice, corn, wheat, sugar, vegetables), building materials (bamboos), medicine, spices, ornamentals. Similar to Cyperaceae, but these don't have jointed stems, stems are usually solid and triangular, leaves have no ligule and are placed in three rows.
Family description
Herbs with underground rhizomes, but sometimes large and woody (bamboos), with jointed, often hollow stems.Leaves often in two rows, simple, entire, consisting of an elongate sheath and a linear blade with a 'ligule' at the base, venation parallel.
Flowers uni- or bi-sexual with flower-base (perianth) reduced to bristles or scales, each subtended by a pair of bracts
Fruit an achene.
General info
Distribution Pan-tropical. More than 10,000 species.Ecology On open, light rich places, usually with heavy grazing. Often spreading by vegetative propagation. Bamboos can dominate large areas of disturbed vegetation.
Uses Food (rice, corn, wheat, sugar, vegetables), building materials (bamboos), medicine, spices, ornamentals.
Similar to Cyperaceae, but these don't have jointed stems, stems are usually solid and triangular, leaves have no ligule and are placed in three rows.
Treated genera
Monocots.pdf